Paper cutting and folding machine.



SHEET 1.

PATENI'ED JULY-14 a sHnnT T.L.BR'ANNEN,

PAPER CUTTING ANDFOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 5. 1906.

PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

T. L. BRANNEN. PAPER CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

. I I I o APPLICATION FILED NOV 6 19 6 5 BHEETS SHEET 2 T. L. \BRANNBN.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.'5. 1906.

PAPERCUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

I. [.1 I M I I! I. QM M W b k. M v KW v Q V 1 l lli [W WARN m. h m N I No. 893,136.

- No.893,136.' PATENTED JULY 14, 19.os. T-L.BRANNBN.

PAPER GUTTIN G AND FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIOAVTION FILED NOV. 5-. 190a.

6 SHEETS-SHEET ,4-

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PATENTED JULYYM, 1908.

T. L. BRANNEN. PAPER CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

6 SHEETS-SEEET 5.

APPLIOATION IILED NOV. 5. 1906.

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/ Wm w nwsmroe TAO/M15, Brahnen- A mam M ww mwwg WITNESSES:

THOMAS L. BRANNEN, OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

PAPER CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHI1\TE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 5, 1906.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Serial No. 342,151.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. BRANNEN, residing at Berlin, in the county of Coos and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Cutting and Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in paper cutting and folding machines and it particularly seeks to provide a machine in which means are provided for cutting the paper and folding the same in one and the same machine.

Generically, my invention comprises a pa- I per cutting and folding machine in which means are provided for feeding the paper to the cutter and means for receiving the paper from the cutter and folding the same and then transferring the folded paperout of the machine.

In its more detail nature my invention includes an improved mechanical adjustment for raising and lowering the folding devices so that sheets of different lengths may be I folded either in the center or along any desired line.

My invention has for its object to provide means for operating the folding bar of the folding mechanism at predetermined times to allow the folding bar to remain inactive for a sufficient length of time to permit a sheet to be fed in alinement therewith and then operating the folding bar to pass the sheet between the folding rollers.

My invention also has for its object to providean improved driving mechanism for the folding rollers,the feed rollers and the cutter mechanism, and also to provide an improved construction-of folding roller mechanism, all of which will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

With other objects which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, my invention also includes certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described in detail, and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in 'theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1., is a side elevation of myinvention. Fig. 2, is a side elevation taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a top plan-view of my machine,

I parts being broken away. Fig. 4, is a vertical, longitudinal section of the machine taken substantially as the line 4.4 of Fig. 8. Fig.

5, is a detail view of the fixed knife holding frame. Fig. 6, is a detail elevation of one of the folding roller carrying frames. Fig. 7, is a detail view of the bearing for the folding roller shafts which cooperates with the frame shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8, is a detail cross section on the line 88 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9, is a detail perspective view of the rotating knife cylinder, its cooperating fixed knife and guide and the supportin bearings therefor.

Fig. 10, is a detail view s owing the manner of adjustably mounting the carriages 13 on the supporting frame of the machine. Fig. 11, is a detail view of the bracket 36 hereinafter referred to.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, the main frame of the machine comprises the side standards 1-1 connected together by rods 1 as shown. The standards 1-1 carry extension frames 1 which are secured theretoin any approved manner. At the rear end, the standards have brackets 1 to support threaded shanks 2 ofbearing members 2, which have their shafts 2 adjustable in the brackets 1 by guides 2 2. Mounted in the bearing members 2 is a shaft 3 which has respectively and set screws 6 and 6 respectively, while the shafts 5 carry knives 77 which overlap the knives 66 respectively and are held in engagement therewith by adjustable oollars 8-8' and coil springs 9-9, as shown. Fixed guides bars 10-10 cooperate with the respective sets of cutters A and B and are secured on the extension frame 1 in any approved manner.

11 designates a drum on a shaft 11 that is mounted in bearings 11 on the frame 1 while a guard 12 cooperates with the drum 11 and is secured to the frame 1 by ears 12 on rods 12 and screws or bolts 12 passing through some of the ears 12 and secured to the frame 1 of the machine. (See Fig. 3).

Adj ustably mounted on the main supporting frame 1 are carriages 13 having bearings 13 and lugs 13 for a purpose presently understood. The carriages 13 are secured in place by screw bolts 14 which pass through slots in the frame 1 to allow of limited longitudinal adjustment of the carriages 13 on the frame 1.

Mounted in the bearings 13 of the carriages 13 is a shaft 15 of the rotatable cylinder knife member 15 to which the relatively movable knife blade 16 is secured by screw bolts 16 or in any approved manner.

18 designates the fixed knife carrying member which rests on the carriages 13 and is held parallel with the drum 11 and is also provided with a baffle or guide ortion 18 and slotted ends 18 through which ends the screw bolts 18 pass to secure the member 18 to the carriages 13. A set screw 13 passes through the lug 13 and abuts the member 18 so that the fixed knife carrying member may be adjusted independently of the adjustment of the carriages 13 for a purpose presently to appear. The member 18 has a portion 18 to which the fixed knife 19 is secured by screws 19*, as shown. Secured to the member 18 at each side of the baffle portion 18 thereof, is a spring metal arm 20 having a U-shaped bearing portion 20 in which the ends of a shaft 21 are mounted. The shaft 21 carries a presser roller 21 whose surface is covered with strips 21 of rubber or other suitable non-slip substance. The roller 21 lies parallel to the drum 1 1 and is held pressed thereagainst by the arms 20, (see Fig. 4).

The knife cylinder shaft 15 carries a cam 15 that cooperates with the heel 22 of a rod 22 which is supported from one of the frame members 11 by links 23 that are pivoted at 23 to the frame and at 23 to the rod 22, the pivot oints 23 of all the links 23 lying in straight a inement and parallel to the general longitudinal plane of the rod 22, while the pivot points 22 of all the links he also in straight alinement and parallel to the rod 22 so as to give the rod the proper movement, while still maintaining it always parallel to its first position, (see Fig. 4).

24-24 designate slideways secured to the frame members 1, which slideways are pro vided with grooves 24 to receive the folding roller carrying frame members 25, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 6, by reference to which it will be seen that each frame member 25 comprises a body portion having tongues 25 to enter the slots 24 of the slideways 24, as shown in Fig. 3. The frame members 25 are also provided with parallel vertical slots 25 whose side walls are provided with tongues 25 to enter grooves 26 in bearing members 26 having shaft receiving bearing apertures 26' as indicated, and one of which bearing members is shown in detail in Fig. 7. Each frame member 25 also includes a bearing portion 25 and a screw receiving socket 25 in which the supporting screw pillar 25 is fixedly secured.) See Fig. 1).

25 designates an arm formed with the body portion of the frames 25 whose lower end terminates in a bearing 25 to receive the shaft 28 upon the ends of which the folder levers 29 are secured. Further reference to these levers 29 will be made later. Each frame 25 has attached thereto, an arm 27 having a slideway 27" at right angles to the slots 25 which arm is secured to the body portionof the frame 25 by bolts 27 or otherwise as may be found desirable. ()ne of the levers 29 has a heel 29 which abuts and cooperates with the rod 22 in a manner hereinafter more fully described. To the upper or free end of the levers 29 links 30 are pivotally connected at one end as at 30, see Figs. 1 and 5. The links 30 have their other ends pivotally connected at 3O to the ends of the folding bar 31, the ends of which bar project beyond the links 30 into the slideways 27 for a purpose presently made clear. Within each slot 25 of the frames 25, a plurality of bearings 26 are held, preferably two in each slot, and the bearings 26 serve to receive the shafts 32 of folding rollers 32 which are arranged in pairs, the rollers of each pair lying in horizontal planes and corresponding rollers of different pairs lying in parallel vertical planes. Around the upper pair of rollers 32 I pass an endless belt 33 of any approved material and I also pass an endless belt 34 around the lower pair of rollers 32 which belt also passes around a supplemental idler roller 35 on a shaft 35" mounted in bearings 36 of brackets 136 fastened to the frame of the machine. In practice, as shown in Fig. 4, the contacting faces of the belts 33 and 34 lie in a plane parallel with that containing the slideways 27 of the arms 27, so that the folding bar 31 may be interposed between the rollers 32 that are adj a cent to it at times to bring the paper sheet in between the rollers in its folded condition as will be more fully set forth hereafter. Each screw post or pillar 25" of the frames 25 passes through a bearing aperture 36 in the bracket 36 secured to the side frames 1 of the machine. The bracket 36 is also provided with a bearing aperture 36 in a portion 36 bent at right angles to that having the aperture for the screw pillar 25 to receive an adjusting shaft 37 on the ends of which beveled gears 37 are secured which mesh with beveled gears 37 on the screw posts 25 whereby when the shaft 37 is rotated, the motion thereof will be transmitted to the beveled gear 37 and the frame 25 elevated or lowered according as the shaft 37 is rotated in one direction or the other by means of a hand Wheel 37 0 shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The.

bracket 36 is shown in detail in Fig. 11. The shaft 28 carries a supplemental arm 28 to the end of which a coil spring 28 is secured, and the spring 28 also is secured to one of the bracket members 25 of the frame 25 so on the frame 1, Which drive shaft carries a fast pulley 39, and a loose pulley 40, together with a drive pinion 41 which meshes with a pinion 42 on a stub shaft 42 secured to the frame 1 of the machine, the pinion 42 in turn meshing with a master gear 43 on the shaft 1 1 a of the drum 11. The master wheel 43 meshes with a gear 44 on a stub shaft 44 that is secured to the side frame 1' and which in turn meshes with gears 45 and 46 arranged respectively on the shafts 44 of the rotary trimming cutter mechanisms A and B. The gears 45 and 46 mesh 'respectively with gears 47 and 48 on the shafts 5-5 of the cutter mechanisms A and B respectively so that the proper motion may be imparted to the cutters 6-7, and 6 7 respectively.

' The shaft 15 of the knife cylinder 15 projects through one side of the machine and is held in the bearings 13 of the slideways 13, as before stated, the projecting end of the shaft 15 however, carries a master gear 49 which meshes with a gear 50 on. a stub shaft 50 that is carried by an arm 50 pivotally mounted on the shaft 15* adjacent the gear 49 and which has a slotted arc portion 50 ter minating in a hand engaging member 50 and secured in place by a nut 51 on a bolt 5O secured to the frame 1 of the machine so that the arm 50 may be adjusted on its fulcrum on the shaft 15 to adjust the gear 50 to mesh with the pinion 52 on a shaft 52 mounted in bearings on the frame of the machine and projecting through to the side opposite to. that containing the pinion 52. The shaft 52 on its opposite side carries a belt pulley 53 having suitable belt tightening mechanism of any approved type, since the same per se, forms no part of my present invention, (see Fig. 2). The pulley 53 is belted with a second and similar pulley 54 on the drive shaft 38 before referred to.

In order to enable the proper adjustment of the folding rollers 32 and their proper intergearing and operative connection With the drive shaft, I provide a special construction of drive gear therefor and which cut off by is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that I provide the drum shaft 11 at one end with a sprocket 55 around which an endless chain 56 passes. The chain 56 also passes around a sprocket 57 on a shaft 57 that passes through the bearing portions 25 of the frames 25 so as to be movable therewith. The sprocket chain 56 also passes around an idler pulley 58 on a stub shaft 58 secured to the side frame of the machine and also around a second-idler pulley 59 held on a shaft 59 carried by an arm 59 that is fulcrumed at its other end to the frame of the machine and is normally controlled by a spring 60 as shown to maintain the proper tension on the endless chain 56, it being understood that Wherever I use the term spring in this specification, a weight maybe used as the mechanical equiv alent. The shaft 32 of the lower pair of rollers 32 are each provided with gears 61 which mesh with a gear 62 on the shaft 57 a and the gear 61 of the roller 32 opposite that which is adjacent the folding bar 31 meshes with a gear 63 on the shaft 32 of one of the rollers of the upper pair so that proper motion may be imparted to the belts 33 and 34 to make their coacting faces move accord- So far as described the manner in which my invention operates will be best explained as follows. The roll of paper P is mounted on the bobbin 3 and passes through either set of trimmers A and B, see dotted lines Fig. 4 and over the drum 1 1 and downbetween the knives 16 and 19, as shown. The paper is fed to the knives 16 and 19 by the drum 11 and presser roller 21 through the medium of the drive shaft 38 and its gear connections with the drum shaft 11 As motion is imparted to the drive shaft 38, the motion therein is transmitted through the gears,,

chain and belt mechanisms, so that the paper will be fed by the roller to the cylinder knife between it and the fixed knife 19, while the knife cylinder 15 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow to cut the paper as the knives reach the position shown inFig. 4. As this operation takes place, it should be understood, a length of paper has passed down between the folding bar 31 and the adjacent' rollers 32 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, which length of paper is cut off by the knives 16 and 19 from the main strip and as the cam 15 rests on the bar 22 it in turn through the coaction of the heel 29 will move the lever 29 to force the folding bar 31 between the adjacent rollers 32, carrying with it the paper strip, that has been the knives 16 and 19. The rollers 32 and their belts 33 and 34 then take up the folded edge of the paper and at the same time, the cam- 15 releases the bar 22 which drops to its normal position, While the spring .rolis 28 returns the lever 29 to its original position and withdraws the folding bar 31, thus allowing the bolts 33 and 34 to continue the folded strip through the rollers 32 and along past the roller 35 onto a suitable receiving table, not shown. By manipulating the hand wheel 37 the frame 25 can be raised or lowered to so change its relative distance from the knife 19 that the paper can be folded along any desired line in any desired. proportion between certain limits and also paper of different lengths can be folded by this machine either centrally or in proportionate parts.

When it is desired to adjust the relatively fixed knife 19 into proper position with respect to the knife 16, it is only necessary to inani ulate the set screws 13 to adjust the memfier 18 after which it can be firmly clamped into position by the securing bolts.

When it is desired to adjust the cutting mechanism back or forth in the supporting frame, it is only necessary to move the carriage 13 longitudinally by loosening the bolts 14, which longitudinal adjustment is only limited by the length of the slots through which the bolts 14 pass, thus allowing for the adjustment of the line of contact between the cutters 16 and 19 to allow it to be placed in proper vertical alinement with the folding mechanisms so that as the folding bar 31 recedes from the rollers 32 the paper strips may be passed between the bar 31 and the rollers 32 to be engaged by the bar 31 as it is moved toward the rollers 32 to force the paper be-' tween the rollers in its folded condition.

The cam 15 and the bar 22 together with the cooperating connections with the folding bar 31 are so arranged that the cam will operate the rod 22 at the proper time to give the proper throw to pass the folding bar 31 through between the first pair of folding 32 and return it in proper time to allow the next sheet or sheets to pass between the folding bar and the folding rollers.

It should be understood that all gearing between the various parts may be regulated and adjusted in their relative proportions to perform the proper correlative movement of the various parts, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

The belts 33 and 34 it might be mentioned, are preferably made of canvas, although they may be formed of any other suitable material.

By arranging the rotating knife cylinder in back of the drum 11 and partly below the same and by rotating it as shown and described, the knife 19 brings the paper back into a position to properly cooperate with the folding bar.

While but one paper roll carrier has been shown on the machine in the .drawings, yet in practice, the paper rolls are supported in separate frames, and several strips of paper are fed to the drum 11 and presser roll which cooperates therewith, thus enabling a plurality of strips to be trimmed, cut and folded at the same time.

Any number of the cutting mechanisms A and B may be provided, depending upon the number of sheets desired to be used, for instance, while each cutting liltt'llitlliSlll A and B can trim sheets from several rolls simultaneously, yet their capacity is limited, and say if the paper is of such thickness that one of said trimmers A can cut but twelve strips of paper then the second set B will be used to cut twelve more, thus making it possible to transversely cut twenty-four sheets feeding them all at the same time by the drum 11 and its presser roll.

As many supports for the paper rolls may be provided as may be found desirable in practice.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construct ion, operation and many advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an zuljustable cutting mechanism, of a folding mechanism, and means cooperathmly connected with the cutting mechanism for operating the folding mechanism and means for adjusting the folding mechanism toward or from the cutting mechanism, substantially as shown and described. I

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an adjustable transverse strip cutting mechanism, of an adjustable folding mechanism, and means cooperatively connected with the cutting mechanism for operating the folding mechanism therefrom, substantially as shown and de scribed.

3, In a machine of the class described, a feed drum and a pressure roller cooperating therewith, a relatively fixed cutting knife and a rotatable cylinder knife cooperating therewith, supporting carriages for said fixed knife and said rotatable cylinder knife combined with folding mechanism for receiving the cut strip and folding the same together with means for adjusting the fixed knife toward or from the rotatable cylinder knife, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a machine of the class described, a feed drum and a pressure roller cooperating therewith, a relatively fixed cutting knife and a rotatable cylinder knife cooperating therewith, supporting carriages for said 'lixcd knife and said rotatable cylinder knife cone bined with a folding mechanism for receiving the cut strip and folding the same together with means for adjusting the fixed knife toward or from the rotatable cylinder knife, and a drive shaft and means cooperatively connecting the feed drum, the rotatable cylinder knife and the folding mechanism 5 with said drive shaft so that the motion of the drive shaft will be imparted thereto, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a machine of the class described, a cutting mechanism comprising a relatively fixed knife and a rotatable cylinder knife, combined with a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism comprising a plurality of pairs of belted folding rollers, a folding bar cooperating therewith, sup orting frames for said rollers and said fol ing bar, means cooperatively connected with said folding bar and said rotatable cylinder knife for operating the folding bar at predetermined times, means for rotating said rotatable 2o cylinder knife and said folding rollers, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a machine of the class described, a cutting mechanism comprising a relatively fixed knife and a rotatable cylinder knife,

combined with a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism comprising 'a plurality of pairs of belted folding rollers, a folding bar 006 erating therewith, supporting frames for sai rollers and said folding bar, means oooperatively connected with said folding bar and said rotatable cylinder knife for operating the folding bar at predetermined times, means for rotating said rotatable cylinder I knife and said folding rollers, and means for adjusting the folding roller supporting frames toward or from the cutting mechanism. I

7. In a machine of theclass described, a

I cutting mechanism com rising a relatively fixed knife and a rotata le cylinder knife, -combined with a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism comprising a lurality of pairs of belted folding rollers, a olding bar cooperating therewith, sulpiporting frames for said rollers and said f0 ing bar, means cooperatively connected with said folding bar and said rotatable cylind'er knife for operating the folding bar at predetermined times, means for rotating said rotatable cylinder knife and said folding rollers, means for adjusting the folding roller supporting frames toward or from the cutting mechanism, and said last named means comprising a rotatable adjustable shaft, a turn wheel mounted thereon, a screw bolt carried by the supporting frames for the belted folding rollers and gear connections between said screw portions and said adjusting shaft.

8. In a machine of the class described, a

0 plurality of trimming and cutting mechanisms for trimming paper longitudinally, a

. feed drum and presser roller therefor, said paper adapted to pass over said feed drum, a second cutting mechanism for transversely 5 cutting the paper into sections, means for receiving said sections and folding the same, said folding means including a reciprocating folding bar, folding rollers cooperating therewith, and means for adjusting said folding rollers toward or from the second cutting mechanism. i

- 9. A cutting and folding mechanism for paper cutting and folding machines comprising a fixed knife carrying member, a knife fixedly secured thereto, supporting carriages 5 for said fixed knife carrying member, means for adj ustably holding said fixed knife carrying member on said su porting carriages, a rotatable cylinder kni e mounted in bearings in said carriages for cooperating with said fixed knife, means for feeding paper to said knives, together with a folding mechanism for receiving the aper as it leaves said knives, and folding t e same, substantially as shown and described. 5

10. In a machine of the class described, a

transverse strip cutting mechanism, means for feeding the strip to the cutting mechanism, combined with a folding mechanism for receiving the cut sections of strip from the cutting mechanism and folding the same, said folding mechanism comprising folding rollers and a reciprocating folding bar, means operated directly from the cutting mechanism for reciprocating the folding bar at pre- 5 determined times, and means for adjusting the folding bar and folding rollers simultaneously toward or from the cutting mechanism substantially as shown and described.

11. In a machine of the class described, a strip cutting mechanism combined with a stripfolding mechanism including folding rollers and a reciprocating folding bar, together with means for simultaneously adjusting the folding rollers and folding bar toward 5 or from the cutting mechanism, and means for adjusting the cutting mechanism at right angles to the direction of adjustment of the folding mechanism, substantially as shown and described. 12. In a machine of the class described, a paper feeding and a paper cutting mechanism, comprising a rotatable cutter and a fixed cutter, means for adjusting the fixed cutter toward or from the rotatable cutter, combined with a folding mechanism, means for adjusting the entire folding mechanism toward or from the cutting mechanism, and means for adjusting the entire cutting mechanism -in a direction at right angles to the adjustment of the folding mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a machine of the class described, a cutting mechanism combined with a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism comprising roller carrying frames, a reel rocating folding bar cooperating with said ro lers, said roller carrying frames having guide-ways to receive said folding bar, means operable directly from the cutting mechanism for reciprocating the folding bar at predetermined times, substantially as shown and described.

14. In a machine of the class described, a cutting mechanism combined with a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism comprising roller carrying frames, a reciprocating folding bar cooperating with said rollers, said roller carrying frames having guide-ways to receive said folding bar, means operable di rectly from the cutting mechanism for reciprocating the folding bar at predetermined times, and means for adjusting the roller carrying frames toward or from the cutting mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

15. In a machine of the class described, a cutting mechanism combined with a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism comprising roller carrying frames, a reciprocating folding bar cooperating with said rollers, said roller carrying frames having guideways to receive said folding bar, means operable directly from the cutting mechanism for reciprocating the folding bar at predetermined times, means for adjusting the roller carrying frames toward or from the cutting mechanism, said roller carrying frames having their rollers arranged in sets, endless belts passing around each set, and an idler pulley around which one of said endless belts passes, substantially as shown and described.

16. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of trimming and cutting mechanisms for trimming paper longitudinally, a feed drum and presser roller therefor, said paper adapted to pass over said feed drum, a second cutting mechanism for transversely cutting the paper into sections, means for receiving said sections and folding the same, said folding means including a reciprocating folding bar, folding rollers cooperating therewith, and means for adjusting said folding rollers and said folding bar toward or from the second cutting mechanism.

THOMAS L. BRANNICN.

Vitncsses DANIEL J. DALEY, MARY SHERIDAN. 

